We are a family of six, living in southeast Idaho, that have decided to home educate our children. I started this blog to keep a record of all our learning and adventures. Please feel free to look around and leave your own thoughts and ideas. Thanks for coming!

A Bit About Our Blog

Our home is centered in Christ and our learning is influenced by many methods, but mostly Charlotte Mason . I have gotten a lot of my works and books from A2 Curriculum and from books that I have found through my own research.

What we are currently learning!

Darling Helper (12):

~ Life of Fred; Review of Apples through Jelly Beans~ McGuffey's Fifth Reader

A Bit About Us

We started our family in 1998, when we married. Since that time, we have had three beautiful daughters and one very fun son. We love spending time together and doing things outdoors and in. We are very committed to our faith and feel that it is our job to teach our children the things they need to grow, and also the things they need to have successful and productive lives. We think that an integral part of that is a strong testimony of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

It is true, that over the last 15 or so years, I have noticed bits and pieces of the true meaning of Christmas being forgotten or tossed to the side for the glossy, fun, "commercial" side. Yesterday, however, I was given a big realization of that fact. Sadly, after thinking about it all night, my heart aches for the loss that the people of the world have.

My hubby's grandpa just recently moved closer to us. He is living in an assisted living home, so when he moved in, he downsized A LOT. He took with him only the basic clothing and furniture he needed. This lovely man also happened to have a birthday yesterday, that we were lucky to celebrate with him. But, always the question, what do you get a man that is turning 79 that doesn't NEED anything. Well, since it is the season when we celebrate Christ's birth, I thought along those lines. What can we get for this wonderful man who loves God. I decided to get him a Nativity set for his room; the search began.

I didn't think that it would actually be the search that it turned out to be. I went to SEVEN different stores. After the first three stores, where not a single nativity was hiding amongst the throngs of Santas and snowmen, I went to a store that I KNEW would have sets, and they did. This is a religious book store and they had many, MANY sets to choose from.

I found a great one that I thought reflected Grandpa, but being the bargain shopper that am ( or try to be), I proceeded to look some more and after three more stores of not finding a single nativity set, I became quite sad. I know these stores use to carry them, because I have purchased them there before.

Aisles and aisles of Christmas finery and decoration. I even looked through all the ornaments, in hopes that a nativity ornament would be hidden amongst the glitter and shine, but no; nothing. It's so sad. While I am doing everything I can to help my children remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas, the world is forgetting the reason, or at the very least, choosing not to recognize it.

With five of the other six stores, Christ was no where to be found in any of the Christmas celebration items. Not even a simple "He is the Reason for the Season" sign; nothing.

So, I ask this of myself, am I doing everything, absolutely everything that I can to make sure that my children know that Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas? I know I could do more, and I will. All the "big ( and small) box" stores may have decided to forget why we are celebrating, but my family will not.

So, I send out this plea; remember Him. Remember the gift that God gave to each of us and the sacrifices that were made on our behalf. Teach your children and shout it to the world . . . I believe in Christ and it is that reason that we celebrate CHRISTmas!

~~~

7 And she brought forth her afirstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the binn.